Rafsanjani: I will vote for Iranian Candidate Rouhani

Al-Jazeera reports Iran's former moderate president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has endorsed ally Hassan Rouhani in the June 14 election, saying the candidate is "more suitable" than others for the presidency.

Rouhani was Iran's former top nuclear negotiator under former president Mohammad Khatami, says al-Jazeera, and served as top security official under Rafsanjani.

"I will vote for Dr Rouhani, who entered the race after consulting me," Rafsanjani said in remarks reported by ILNA news agency on Tuesday, quoted al-Jazeera.

"I consider him to be more suitable (than other candidates) to steer the executive branch," he said, adds al-Jazeera, referring to the slate of five other hopefuls, most of whom are conservatives.